Diplomacy Journal David Kendall 기자 | The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul hosted a reception on Tuesday to mark the country's 55th Independence and National Day at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event brought together ambassadors, Korean government officials, and members of the diplomatic community to celebrate Bangladesh's national milestone and reflect on the growing partnership between the two countries.
South Korea's Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Lim Sang-woo delivered remarks on behalf of the Korean government, congratulating Bangladesh on its new government following the February 12, 2026, parliamentary elections. Invoking the late President Zia's words on national unity, Deputy Minister Lim drew a parallel between the two nations' shared histories of colonial rule and their determination to preserve their distinct languages and identities. He pointed to Bangladesh's sustained economic growth rate of approximately 7% since 2011 as a testament to the dynamism of its people, and pledged Korea's continued support as Bangladesh navigates the structural challenges that accompany rapid development.
Deputy Minister Lim traced the bilateral economic relationship from the landmark 1979 garment industry partnership through to current cooperation in electronics, automobiles, and infrastructure and noted that the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework and ongoing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations would provide the institutional foundation for even deeper economic integration. He also acknowledged the contributions of over 13,000 Bangladeshi nationals working in Korea as an integral part of Korean society.
Ambassador Toufiq Islam Shatil highlighted Bangladesh's 170-million-strong domestic market as a compelling platform for expanded international engagement, and outlined the reform agenda of Prime Minister Tariq Rahman's newly elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party government, which secured nearly 70% of parliamentary seats. The Ambassador emphasized the new government's commitment to deregulation, foreign investment facilitation, education reform, and good governance. On the bilateral relationship, he cited Korea's humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Korea's backing of Bangladesh's candidacy for the United Nations Security Council for the term 2031–32, and the growing number of Bangladeshi students enrolling at Korean universities.
Ambassador Shatil also noted the rising popularity of K-culture, K-food, K-pop, and K-drama among Bangladeshi citizens as a powerful driver of people-to-people connection.
Both speakers closed on a note of optimism, expressing shared commitment to a relationship that is, in the Ambassador's words, "value-based and action-oriented" — and to taking Korea–Bangladesh friendship to new heights in the years ahead.
